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Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD)

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Computer Aided Drafting and Design is now a major industrial art used extensively in many applications and industries, including automotive, shipbuilding, apparel manufacturing, aerospace, medical imaging, architectural and interior design, and an assortment of other industries. Today even perfume bottles and shampoo dispensers are designed using CADD techniques unheard of by engineers just a few decades ago. CADD is now also widely used in the design of tools and machinery and in the drafting and design of a variety of buildings from small residential homes to the largest commercial and industrial structures such as hospitals, factories, and bridges. CADD is also used to produce computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising, and technical manuals. ​

Those with advanced CADD knowledge and software skills will be valued in the workplace of today, and going forward.

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Computer Aided Drafting and Design Major Degrees and Certificates

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​​​​​Major/Degrees & Certificates

AA

AS

​CERT.

AA-T/AS-T

This course is a computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) course in which the students will learn the fundamentals of using AutoCAD software. The students will learn basic CADD techniques that are used to draw and edit drawing entities; manipulate screen displays; write text; lay out drawings; print and plot drawings; apply dimensions; and manage drawing files. An introduction to computer use will be included in this course and previous knowledge of computers or computer programming is not required.

Units: 3

Lecture Hours: 2 | Lab Hours: 3 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Advisory Level — Read: 3 | Write: 3 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-131 - AutoCAD 2

This course is a computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) course where students will learn intermediate to advanced applications of AutoCAD software. Specific areas to be covered in this course include: working in model and paper space; drawing and viewing in 3-D space; creating 3-D models; using blocks with attributes; working with external references; rendering; understanding user coordinate system; AutoCAD and the Internet; advanced drawing, editing, and configuration procedures; and an introduction to user- level system customization.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: CADD 130 or equivalent coursework or work experience.

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-132 - Using Mechanical Desktop

Mechanical Desktop is an integrated CADD package of advanced 3-D modeling tools, and 2-D drafting and drawing capabilities that help conceptualize, design, and document mechanical products. This course is an advanced computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) course where students learn to use Mechanical Desktop software.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: CADD 130 or equivalent coursework or work experience.

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-133 - Using Autodesk Inventor

Inventor is a feature-based, solid modeling tool intended for people who want to create and develop mechanical designs in a 3-D environment. This course is a computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) course wherein the students will learn the fundamentals of Autodesk Inventor software.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: Basic computer skills.

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-134 - Advanced Autodesk Inventor

This advanced Autodesk Inventor course extends what was learned in the Using Autodesk Inventor course by addressing topics that include advanced model creation techniques, sheet metal design, top-down assemblies, use of design elements, and creation of presentations.

CADD 135 is a computer-aided drafting and design course that focuses on the use of Autodesk Land Desktop software. In this course, students will become familiar with the interface and command sets of Land Desktop while learning to create typical civil engineering project data. Working with points, creating surfaces, performing terrain modeling, drawing and editing lines and curves, layout of parcels and performing labeling tasks are concepts included in the project work for this course.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: 0 | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: CADD 130 or equivalent coursework or work experience

Advisory Level — Read: 3 | Write: 3 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-138 - Work Experience

Occupational Work Experience is designed for students who work or volunteer in a field related to their career major. Students are required to provide evidence that they are enrolled in a career program (e.g., education plan or coursework in a career/occupational subject area). Students can earn one unit of credit for each 60 hours of unpaid volunteer time or 75 hours of paid work during the semester. Students can repeat Career/Occupational Work Experience, combined with General Work Experience, or alone, up to a maximum of 16 units. Internship/job placement is not guaranteed.

Units: 1 - 8

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 1.81 | Repeatable: 15 | Grading: O

Corequisite: Be employed or a volunteer at an approved work-site for the minimum number of hours per unit as stipulated for paid and unpaid status.

Advisory Level — Read: 3 | Write: 3 | Math:

Transfer Status: CSU | Degree Applicable: AA/AS

CADD-139 - Using Solidworks

Solidworks is a feature-based, solid modeling tool intended for people who want to create and develop mechanical designs in a 3-D environment. This course is a computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) course wherein the students will learn the fundamentals of Solidworks software.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: L

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 0

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-140A - CADD Applications - Basic Drafting

This course is a beginning level drafting/CADD course focusing on the standardized concepts of technical drafting. The fundamental drafting concepts of orthographic projection, sketching, section views, auxiliary views, dimensioning practices, and drawing annotations used in a variety of industrial, civil architectural and business applications will be covered.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: Prior CADD training and/or experience

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-140B - CADD Applications - Detailing and Assemblies

This course is a CADD course focusing on the application of drafting concepts using orthographic projection, sketching, section views, auxiliary views, dimensioning practices, and drawing annotations. The creation of detail and assembly drawing documentation typically done in a variety of industries will be covered.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: CADD130 and 140A or equivalent coursework or work experience.

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-141 - CADD Applications - Design

This course is a drafting/design/CADD course where students learn to use 2-D and 3-D CADD techniques when designing single objects and assemblies of objects. Analysis of current design practices and/or manufacturing processes will be included through research of standards, catalogs, data sheets, drawings, and other reference sources. Students will prepare layouts and formal drawings of their designs, and all documentation will be expressed using appropriate conventions. A variety of typical industrial and business design problems, typically done using CADD techniques, will be explored.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: CADD 130 and 140A or equivalent coursework or work experience.

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-142 - Modern Dimensioning and Tolerancing

CADD 142 is a theory course that focuses on a study of dimensioning and tolerancing based on ASME Y14.5M-1994 standards. Emphasis will be given to geometric dimensioning and tolerancing concepts, tolerance studies, general dimensioning and tolerancing techniques and theory. An introduction to the newest related standard, ASME Y14.41-2003 Digital Product Definition Data Practices, will be included.

CADD 144A is an architectural drafting course where the students will apply CADD techniques to typical architectural drawing and design problems. The drawing and detailing of floor plans, foundation plans, sections, interior and exterior elevations and plot plans will be included in this course. All drawing projects will enhance the students' knowledge of the nomenclature and methods applied to the architectural and building industries.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: CADD 130 or equivalent coursework or work experience.

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-144B - Architectural CADD Applications

CADD 144B is an architectural drafting course where the students will apply CADD techniques to typical architectural drawing and design problems. The application and creation of typical drawings, details and specifications to an architectural design project will be the focus of this course.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Recommended: CADD 130 and 144A or equivalent coursework or work experience.

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-145 - Architectural CADD Applications-Landscaping

CADD 145 is an architectural drafting course where the students will apply CADD techniques to typical architectural drawing and design problems. The drawing, detailing and design of landscaping elements of typical residential or commercial architectural sites will be the focus of this course.

Units: 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 6 | Repeatable: No | Grading: O

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-146A - AutoCAD Software Updates

CADD 146A is a computer-aided drafting and design course that offers students lab training in the updates and new features included in latest release of AutoCAD software.

Units: 0.5 - 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 1.5 - 6 | Repeatable: 3 | Grading: O

Recommended: Prior CADD knowledge

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-146B - Inventor Software Updates

CADD 146B is a computer-aided drafting and design course that offers students lab training in the updates and new features included in the latest release of Inventor software.

Units: 0.5 - 2

Lecture Hours: None | Lab Hours: 1.5 - 6 | Repeatable: 3 | Grading: O

Recommended: Prior CADD knowledge

Advisory Level — Read: 2 | Write: 2 | Math: 1

Transfer Status: None | Degree Applicable: AS

CADD-146C - Solidworks Software Updates

CADD 146C is a computer-aided drafting and design course that offers students lab training in the updates and new features included in latest release of Solidworks software.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational handbook, the median annual wage for drafters was $49,630 in 2012. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employment of industrial designers was expected to grow 10% between 2010 and 2020, while drafters would only see a limited increase. The best opportunities should arise for drafters with experience and formal training using CADD technology. In 2012, industrial and commercial designers had an annual mean wage of $62,430. Architectural and civil drafters earned an average salary of $50,550, while mechanical drafters had an average salary of $53,270.